Europolitan first in Scandinavia to launch GPRS

Europolitan first in Scandinavia to launch GPRS Europolitan is the first Scandinavian mobile operator to launch GPRS, a whole new system that makes it easier and more efficient for mobile customers to send and receive data over the mobile network. GPRS enables customers to be permanently connected to the mobile network and pay for transferred data volumes rather than connection time. GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) is a system that enables users to be connected 24 hours a day. It is ideal for WAP, surfing the Internet or sending and receiving e-mails from computers connected to a GPRS telephone. GPRS is a supplement to the GSM network but works in a completely different way. In the regular GSM network, users dial a data connection and then wait for the information to come to them. GPRS, however, sends information through the network in small packets that merge together as a whole again on arrival at the phone, which is exactly how the Internet works. GPRS means fewer and simpler connections, as users can remain connected even when they are not actively using the network. It is also more cost- efficient as you only pay for transferred information. In other words, GPRS users do not have to worry about disconnecting immediately after sending or receiving information. "GPRS is a milestone in the history of Europolitan and the mobile phone," says Jon Risfelt, Managing Director of Europolitan. "GPRS will give customers their first taste of the more user-friendly technology that will be offered by the new UMTS network in a year or so. We are very proud to be the first Nordic operator to launch GPRS into operation," he says. Europolitan has decided to apply lower rates during the testing period until the end of March. This is because GPRS is still as yet untested and limited access to terminals has not allowed for large-scale use. GPRS subscriptions will be sold at Europolitan Stores, Ocom and Europolitan Partner stores from 1 December. To use the new technology you need a subscription and a mobile phone that supports GPRS. GPRS prices during the test period, 1 December 2000 to 31 March 2001 GPRS WAP GPRS Surf Supplementary service, Europolitan Data GPRS Call rate (Voice), SEK 1.82 - 1.98 SEK 1.82 - 1.98 Regular call GSM daytime rates Weekdays 19.00-01.00, SEK 0.90 SEK 0.90 Weekends 07.00-01.00 All nights, 01.00- SEK 0.55 SEK 0.55 07.00 Call rates (Data) SEK 140/MB SEK 0/MB SEK 140/MB Monthly charge SEK 155/month SEK 295/month SEK 0/month For calls connected SEK 0/hour SEK 0/hour SEK 0/hour >24 hours, from th 25 hour All prices are excluding VAT. Regular prices apply from 1 April 2001. Connection fee: SEK 200 for GPRS WAP and GPRS Surf subscriptions GPRS WAP: SEK 175/month, otherwise as above GPRS Surf: SEK 20/MB, otherwise as above Europolitan Data GPRS: SEK 20/month, otherwise as above th For calls connected 24 consecutive hours or more: SEK 2/hour from 25 hour. All standard services including Number display, EuroMail, EuroVoice and EuroText are included in GPRS WAP and GPRS Surf. Users can subscribe for the supplementary service Europolitan Data GPRS as a supplement to Foretag 2.2, Business Partner agreements, Multi- subscription agreements and customers with EuroBusiness agreements. For Multi-subscription agreements there is no monthly charge, however. Europolitan AB is a Swedish GSM operator that prioritises service and quality. The company's head office is in Karlskrona, Sweden. Europolitan is a leader in the field of technically advanced services for GSM 900/1800. The Europolitan Group, which also includes the stock market listed parent company Europolitan Holdings AB and Europolitan's fellow subsidiaries, Europolitan Stores AB, Ocom AB, Doberman AB and Mobile Relations AB, has around 1,200 employees. For more information, please visit our web site, www.europolitan.se For more information, please contact: Johan Holmgren, Public Relations Manager, Europolitan AB Tel: +46 708 33 14 00, e-mail: johan.holmgren@europolitan.se Rikard Svensson, product manager data services, Europolitan Tel: +46 708 33 13 82, e-mail: rikard.svensson@europolitan.se ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by BIT http://www.bit.se The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/11/30/20001130BIT01400/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/11/30/20001130BIT01400/bit0002.pdf